Combined doorstop and locking means



Oct. 4, 1932. .1. A. BROssART ET AL 1,880,757

COMBINED DOORS'IIOP AND LOCKING MEANS Oct. 4, 1932.

J. A. -BROSSART ET AL COMBINED DOORSTOP AND LOCKING MEANS Filed July 25. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES texan? Parent ortica JOHN A.. BROSSART, IBENJ'AlVlIIN` F. OBR, AND WILLIAM SPENCE, 0F INDIANAPOLIS,

INDIANA COMBINED DOORSTOP AND IJOCKING MEANS Application filed July 23, 1931. Serial No. 552,672.

This invention relates to improvements in combined Vdoor .stop and locking means.

In the operation of vehicles, such as railway cars, automobile trucks, and buses, accidents are frequently due to sudden slainming of the doors to closed position arising from abrupt shocks when the vehicle is being started or stopped, and from sudden changes in speed of the vehicle while in motion. This is especially true in connection with the operation of vehicles, such as railway baggage cars having .sliding doors. Baggagemen have frequently been seriously injured while standing in or leaning through the open doorway of the car.

The main object of our invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient means compris'- ing few parts,-which'may be economically manufactured, for positively preventing such accidental movement of the doors to closed position and which at the same time serves as a positive lock for the door.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive Vand simple arrangement of combined door stop and locking means that may be attached to the usual sliding side doors of baggage cars, for positively holding the doors fully' opened or in various partly open positions, thereby preventing sudden closing of the doors due to shocks imparted to the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety device of the character described in the preceding paragraph, which may be readily applied to all types of sliding doors regardless of the particular design or construction of the doors, and wherein the doors are .always under the complete control of the operator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a safety device of the character described, which is controlled by a hand grip mounted on the doo-r, which hand grip also serves as the means for moving thefdoor to either open or .close the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined door stop and locking means for sliding doors, comprising a notched, oscillatory bar vmounted on the door, which cooperates with a fixed stop bar engageable within the notches thereof, the i locking barbeing actuated by turning of a hand grip secured to the door, the notched bar being `oscillated about an eccentric axis by manipulation of the hand grip to disengage and unlock the same from the fixed stop bar to allow the door to be moved to open or close the same, and wherein the hand grip, when released by the operator, is automatically returned to normal position by spring means, thereby oscillating the notched bar to interlock the same with the stop bar and positively hold the door against movement.

VOther objects of the invention` will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings,- forming a part of this specification, .Figure 1 is an interior, elevational view of a portion of a baggage car, illustrating our improvements in connection with a sliding door thereof,`the floor of the `car being shown in section. Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 2--2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged, vertical section al view of the upper part of the door shown in Figure 1 and corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of said figure. is an enlarged elevational view of the actuating hand grip member and adjacent parts, shown in Figure 1. And Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of fixed stop member employed in connection with our improvements, illustrating the stop member as fixed to the wall of the car and showing the latch bar'in vertical section and the upper portion of the door in dotted lines..V

Referring Vfirst to the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4L inclusive, the sliding door of the baggage car is indicated by 10, the same being supported from the usualguide rail or track 1'1 secured to the .side wall of the car in the usual manner. The door 10 has 'a pair of brackets 12-12 fixed to the top Figure 4 guard member 16 is provided in back of which the door 10 slides when opened. This guard prevents the lading of the car from engaging the door and interfering with the open'- ing and closing movements of the same. As shown, the guard member is ofthe usual construction, comprising vertical sections 17-17 and longitudinally disposed, horizontal spaced connecting beams 18-18.

In carrying out our invention, as illus. trated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, a latch bar A is rotatably mounted on the door and cooperates with a lstop rod or bar B fixed to the guard member 16, the latch bar being actuated by means comprising a connecting rod C operatively joined to a rotaryA hand grip D, which is held in normal position by spring means E.

The latch bar A is disposed lengthwise of the door and preferably adjacent to the top thereof, as clearlysho-wn in Figures l, 2, and 3. The bar A is preferably of rectangular cross-section and has a series of notches 19-19 along the longitudinal inner edge thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The notches 19 are of such a width as to properly cooperate with the lock or stop bar B which is fixed to the inner side of the guard member 16 adjacent to the end thereof nearest the doorl opening. As shown, the stop bar B is in the form of a short rectangular bar riveted to the guard member 16. The cross-sectional size and shape of the bar B is such that it fits within the openings or notches- 19-19 of the bar A. The bar A is rotatably supported on the inner side of the door 10 by means of a plurality of bearing brackets 20-20. The bearing brackets 2O are of twopart construction, comprising a base portion 21 fixed to the inner side of the door and a capV portion 22 secured to said base portion by cap screws. rlhe base portion 21 and the cap portion 22 eachhave partial cylindrical bearing seats formed therein. f As shown in Figures 1 and 2, four such bearing brackets are employed. The bar A is provided with a plurality of cylindrical bearing sections 23-23, which are offset with respect to the notched edge portion of the bar and are in axial alignment and ournaled in the brackets 20-20 respectively. Thenotched bar A is thus mounted for oscillation about an ecfcentric axis so that when the same is rotated downwardly from the horizontal position shown in vFigures 1,V 2, and 3, the locking stop bar B will be disengaged from the notches 19 and the bar A will-entirely clear Vthe bar B so that the sliding of the door will vnot be interfered with. At the right-hand end, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2,'the bar A is provided with a laterally projecting arm 24 preferably formed integral therewitln As shown most' clearly in Figure 3, the arm 24 forms `a crank member by which the bar A f may be oscillated about the longitudinal axis thereof.

The operating hand grip member D is rotatably supported on the door for movement about an axis at right angles to the plane of the door, and is located at such a height as to be conveniently accessible to the baggagemen to slide the door open or closed. The

` hand grip D comprises a substantially disc- Vlike Vbase portion 25 having a looplike hand grip proper 26 projecting therefrom. The hand grip 26 comprises end sections 27-27 projecting laterally from the disc 25 at diametrically opposite sides thereof. The outstanding sections 27-27 are connected by a barlike portion 28, which is normally disposed in vertical position. The disclike section 25 has a peripheral, inwardly projecting annular flange 29, which houses the spring E. The disc member 25 is also provided with a central stub shaft 30, which is journaled within a bearing sleeve 31 fixed to the door 10. At the upper` side thereof, the flange 29 of the disc section 25 kis provided with a pair of spaced ears 32-32. lThe hand grip means D is connected to the bar A by means of the rod C, which has the upper end thereof pivotally connected to the outer .end of the arm 24 of the bar A by means of a pin 33. The lower end of the connecting rod C is pivoted to the ears 32-32 ofthehandgrip means D by means of aL bolt 34 extending through an opening inthe lower end of the rod C and aligned openings in the ears 32-32.

A fixed plate 35 is secured to the inner side of the door and carries an outwardly proj ecting pin 36 at the lower end thereof, The disc portion 25 of the hand grip means D is provided with an inwardly projecting pin 37 eccentric to the axis of rotation of said hand grip means and disposed inwardly of the annular flange 29 of the disc 25.

The spring means E comprises a pair of spring rods or bars, each of which has the opposite ends thereof bearing on the pins 36 and 37 respectively, and the intermediate section looped about the stub shaft 30. ,As clearly shown in Figure 4, the corresponding end portions of the spring 'rods bear on opposite sides of the pins `36 and 37 and the intermediate sections of said rods are looped about the stub shaft 30 in opposite directions. As will be evident, the spring means E serves to maintain the hand grip D with the handle portion thereof disposed in the vertical position shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4 of the drawings. The flange 29 of the hand grip means E is slotted as indicated at 38 to accommodatethe lower end sections of the two spring rods of the spring means E.

In order to protectthe connecting rod C against damage by the lading of the car being forced against the same, a sheet metal guard member 39 is preferably provided. This guard member overlies the rod C and vhas side flanges which are seciued to the inner face of the door l0 in any suitable manner.

In some cases 1t is desirable to provide l means for operating the combined stop and by a plate member 42, which is secured to the outer side of the door. rllhe plate memf ber, as shown, is formed integral With the bearing sleeve 31 but, as will be understood, the same -i ay be formed as a separate member.

Referring next to the modiiied form of the fixed stop member shownin Figure 5, the same comprises a vertically disposed bar 43 having an oHset upper end secured to the roof section 44 of the car and having the lower end thereof engageable With the notches l919 of the bar A hereinbefore described. As shown in Figure 5, the bar 43 is braced by a spacing bar 45 having a down turned angular section 46 .at the inner end riveted or spot Welded to the bar 48, and an up-turned angular section 47 at the outer end secured to the side Wall of. the car above the door. The door l() is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5, and one of the brackets 2() for rotatably supporting the bar A is also shown in dotted lines.

In the operation of our improved safety device for locking the door in open or partly open position, assuming that the door is closed as shovvn Vin Figures l and 2, the hand grip D is oscillated either in a right-hand or left-hand direction from the position shown in Figure l, thereby actuating the connecting rod C and oscillating the bar A in the hearing brackets Q0-20- Gscillation of the bar A effects disengagement of the notched portion of the same from the locking bar or projection B, whereupon the Voperator may slide the door to the left, as viewed in Figures l and 2, by pulling on the hand grip D. When the door has been opened to the desired extent, the operator either turns the hand grip D to vertical position or releases his grip from the same, whereupon the spring means E returns the hand grip D to the vertical position shown in Figures l, 3, and 4. The locking bar A will thus be returned to the position shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and the loclring'bar or projection B engaged Within one of the notches 19 of said bar A. In case one of the notches 19-19 of the locking bar A is not in alignment With the locking projection B When the hand grip D is released, the spring means E Will urge omitting such exterior operating means, our

the looking bar A toward locking position and as soon as the door is moved `to a suicient extent to align one ofthe notches 19 With the bar or locking projection B, the spring Will turn the bar A to a suiiicient extent to interlock the same With the projection B. As Will be evident, the locking means provided bythe notched bar A and the projection B effectively holds the door against sliding movement and prevents the same from being accidentally closed when the car is subjected to sudden shocks. It is further pointed Vout that by providing the plurality of notches in the bar A, yWhich cooperate With the locking bar or projection B, a very slight movement only ofthe door is permitted before one of the notches 19 receives the bar B, thereby assuring that the door will be locked against slidingmovement in either direction When open to any desired extent.

As Will be understood from the preceding description, the hand grip 40 on the outside of the door may be omitted, if desired. By

improved combined door stop and locking means provides an eiective locking means which may be operated only from the interior of the car, thereby preventing unauthorized opening of the door from the exterior of the car.

It is further pointed out that our improved locking bar may be applied to any portion of the sliding door and that the invention is not limited to mounting the same at the top of such sliding doors.

We have herein shown and described What We novv consider the preferred manner of carrying out our invention, but the same is changes and modifications that come Within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Vile claim:

l. In a combined stopV and locking means for sliding doors for vehicles, the combination With an oscillatory hand grip member iixed to the door; of a lock bar extending lengthwise ofthe door and movable therewith, said bar being rotatably supported on said door; a fixed locking member cooperating With said bar and adapted to be interlocked therewith in various position-s of thevdoor; means operatively connecting said hand grip and lock bar to eiiect oscillation of the latter; and yielding. means for forcing said loch bar into interlocking relation with said iixed locking member.

2. In a combined stop and locking means for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination With a hand grip rotatably mounted on the door; of means for holding said ISD lso

lnotches of Asaid series, one of saidmembers being fixed to the car Yand the other fixed to the door; means operatively connecting said hand grip and rotary locking bar; and

a spring means for rotating said hand grip to actuate said bar to engage the notched portion thereof with said lug member, said hand grip'being manually` rotatable against 'the resistance of said spring means to actuate the notch d locking bar in a direction to disengagethe same from the lug member. 3. ln a combined stop and locking means Vfor sliding doors of railway cars, the com- 'bar to either engage the locking member with the notches thereof or disengage the same therefrom.

. 4. In a combined stop and loclnng means for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination with a fixed locking projection on the car; of a locking bar of rectangular cross vsect-ion having a series of notches along one longitudinal edge thereof for receiving said locking projection, said bar extending lengthwiseof the door and having an eccentric bearing means thereon; bearing brackets on the door in which said bearing means is journaled'; and means on the door for oscillating said bar, said means including an oscillatory hand grip held against longitudinal movement with respect to the door.

5. In a combined stop and locking means for sliding doors of railway cars, the combi-k nation with a fixed locking member on the car; of an oscillatory locking bar extending lengthwise of the door, said bar being mounted on the door for rotation about an eccentric longitudinal axis and slidable with said door, said locking bar having a series of notches with whiclisaid xed locking member is engagea-ble; a rotary hand grip on the door; and a rod connected at opposite ends to the hand grip and locking bar respectively, said connections of the rod with the hand grip and locking bar being eccentric. Y

G. Ina combined stop and locking means for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination with a fixed locking projection on 'the car; of a locking barvof rectangular crosssection having sections, each provided with a series of notches along one longitudinal edge thereof for receiving said locking projection, said bar extending lengthwise of the door and having eccentric bearing means connecting thenotched sections thereof, said bearing means being disposed inwardly of the notches of said bar; bearing brackets on the door in which said bearing means is ournal'ed; a rotary hand grip on the door; and a rod connected at opposite ends to the hand grip and locking bar respectively, said connections of the rod with the hand grip and locking bar being eccentric.

'l'. In a combined stop and locking means for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination with a fixed locking projection on the car; of a locking bar of elongated cross-section having a series of notches along one longitudinal edge thereof within which said locking projection is engageable, said bar having spaced portions thereof of cylindrical shape providing bearing means, said spaced cylindrical portions being offset inwardly with respect to said notched edge; bearing supports on said door within which said oft set bearing means is journaled; a rotary hand grip on the door; and a rod connected at opposite ends to the hand grip and locking bar respectively, said connections of the rod with the hand grip and locking bar being eccentric. p

S. In a combinedrstop and locking device for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination with a fixed locking projection on the car; of an oscillatory locking bar extending lengthwise of the door, said bar being rotatably supported on the door and held against lengthwise movement with respect to the same, said bar having a series of notches along one edge thereof adapted to receive said locking projection; a hand grip rotatably mounted on the door; spring means yieldingly holding said hand grip in normal position; and means operatively connecting said hand grip and locking bar. Y

V9. ln a combinedstop and locking device for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination with a fixed locking projection on the car; of an oscillatory locking bar extendinglengthwise of the door, said bar being rotatably supported on the door and held against. lengthwise movement with respect to the same, said bar having a series o-f notches along one edge thereof adapted to receive said locking projection; a hand grip mount- Y ed on the door for rotation about an axis at right angles to the plane of the door; spring` means for yieldingly opposing rotation of said hand grip and holding the same in normal position, said grip being manually rotatable from normal lposition against the tension of said spring; and a connecting rod pivoted at opposite ends to said hand grip and locking bar respectively.

l0.V In a combined stop and locking device for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination with a fixed locking projection on the car; of an oscillatory locking bar extending lengthwise of the door, said bar being rotatably supported on the door and held against lengthwise movement with respect to the same, said bar having a. series of notches along one edge thereof adapted to receive said locking projection; a hand grip mounted on the door for rotation about an axis at right angles to the plane ofthe door; spring means for yieldingly opposing rotation of said hand grip and holding the same in normal position, said grip being manually rotatable from normal position against the tension of said spring; a connecting rod pivoted at opposite ends to said hand grip and locking bar respectively; and a shield covering said connecting rod.

11. In a combined stop and locking device for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination with a fixed locking projection on the car; of a locking bar extending lengthwise of the door, said bar having bearing means thereon rotatably j ournaled on said door, said bar projecting laterally from said bearing portions and said laterally projecting section having a series of notches along the longitudinal edge thereof within which said locking projection is engageable; a hand grip having a base portion rotatably supported on the door; a connecting rod pivotally connected at opposite ends to said base portion and locking bar; and spring means for yieldingly opposing oscillation of said hand grip and normally maintaining the same in position to operatively engage said locking projection with a notch of said locking bar.

12. In a combined stop and locking device for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination with a fixed locking projection on the car; of a locking bar extending lengthwise of the door; said bar having bearing means thereon rotatably j ournaled on said door, said bar projecting laterally from said bearing portions and said laterally projecting section having a series of notches along the longitudinal edge thereof within which said locking projection is engageable; a hand grip having a base portion, said base portion having a central bearing member journaled on said door; a pin fixed to the door, said pin being oiset with respect to the axis of rotation of said hand grip; a fixed pin on said base portion eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof; and a spring rod having its opposite ends bea-ring on said pins respectively and having the section intermediate its ends looped about said central bearing member.

13. In a combined stop and locking device for sliding doors of railway cars, the combination with a fixed locking projection on the car; of a. locking bar extending lengthwise of the door, said bar having bearing means thereon rotatably journaled on said door, said bar projecting laterally from said bearing portions and said laterally projecting section having a series of notches along the longitudinal edge thereof within which said locking projection is engageable; a hand grip having a base portion, said base portion having a central bearing member journaled on said door; a pin fixed to the door; a pin fixed to said base portion, said pins being eccentric to the axis of rotation of said hand grip; and a pair of spring rods having the opposite ends thereof bearing on said pins respectively and corresponding ends disposed on opposite sides of the cooperating pin, said spring rods having their intermediate sections looped about the central bearing pin in reverse directions.

14. ln a combined stop and locking device for sliding doors of railway cars provided with a side wall and a spaced guard wall member between which the door is adapted to slide, the combination with a fixed locking projection on said guard wall member; of an oscillatory locking bar extending lengthwise of the door, said bar being mounted on the door for rotation about an eccentric longitudinal axis and slidable with said door, said locking bar having a series of notches with which said fixed locking member is engageable; and means on the door for oscillating said locking bar to either engage the locking member with the notches thereof or disengage the same therefrom.

15. In a combined stop and locking device for sliding doors of railway cars provided with a side wall and a spaced guard wall, between which the door is slidable, the combination with a hand grip rotatably mounted on the door; of means for holding said door locked in various positions, including a notched locking bar member rotatably supported on the door and a cooperating latch lug member engageable with said notched bar, one of said members being fixed to the guard wall of the car and the other xed to the door; means operatively connecting said hand grip and rotary locking bar member; and spring means for rotating said hand grip to actuate said bar to engage the same with said lug member, said hand grip being manually rotatable against the resistance of said spring to actuate the locking bar to disengage the same from said lug member.

ln witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 18th day of July, 1931.

JOHN A. BROSSART. BENJAMIN F. ORB. WILLIAM H. SPENCE. 

